Bearing alloys



Patented Apr. 24, 1962 3,031,298 7 Optimum running properties are shown by the mate- BEARING ALLOYS rials F, G and H. The material H can also be used as Josef Derntl, Linz (Danube), Austria, assignor to Vereimoulding materialnigte Osterreichische Eisenund Stahlwerke Aktienge- Running tests with the new materials show practically sellschaft, Linz (Danube), Austria, a firm twice the load bearing ability as compared with known N0 Dl'awillg- Filed 1960, 10,583 bearing materials. Only at loadings greater than 500 kg.

Claims priority, application Austria Mar. 4, 1959 laims. 75 140) per sq. cm. and a surface speed equal to or greater than 3 111. per see. with oil drip lubrication (with the known The present invention relates to bearing alloys comprismaterials and under the same conditions this figure caning primarily aluminium, zinc and copper. 10 not exceed 280 kg. per sq. cm), is there an increase in the Bearing materials are known which consist of an alutemperature and of the frictional resistance without the miniurn-zinc-copper alloy containing 30% to 66% alushaft being affected and a noticeable increase of wear minium, a copper content which is at least one-sixth and at occurring. Shafts of soft steel (for example St 50.11) most one-quarter of the aluminium content present and show no scoring or erosion after 100 hours running within which the remainder is zinc. Further a similarly conout lubrication. stituted bearing material is known which however con- Press-in tests have shown that the new material will only tains less aluminium, namely 18 to 29%, in which the loosen after heating to 140 C. and following cooling. copper content is one-tenth to one-quarter of the alu- However according to the composition even higher temminium content present and the remainder consists of peratures, for example 160 and in one case even 190 zinc. have been reached, that is temperatures which are practi- Cast bearing materials of the type referred to have a cally never reached in normal bearings. critical temperature at 90 to 100 C., while mouldable The running properties of the new materials have been materials have a critical temperature at 70 to 80 C. tested up to temperatures of 170 C. In these tests there Pressed-in sleeves which are heated above the critical temhas been no adverse effect on the shaft nor any tendency perature show on subsequent cooling a tendency to loosen. to seizure or welding of the bearing material to the shaft. Moreover with these bearing materials adverse efiects on A further advantage of the new material is its outstandshafts of smaller hardness is difficult to avoid. ing workability with chip forming tools which becomes It has now been found that the running properties of particularly apparent when machining on automatic tools. bearing materials of the aluminium-zinc-copper type are The specific weight of the new material lies in general improved by the addition of antimony or tin, or antimony between about 3.6 and 3.8 gm. per cu. cm. and depends and tin. The content of antimony may range between 0.05 mainly on the aluminium content.

to 5% and of tin from 0.1 to 10%. Preferred values are In the following table the most important properties for 1 to 2% antimony and/ or 2 to 6% tin. The copper conthe materials F, G and H are given:

Table 2 I, kg./sq. II, per- III IV, gmJcu. V, VI, VII, kg./sq.

mm. cent cm. 0. 0. cm.

In the above:

I signifies the strength in kg. per sq. mm.

II signifies the yield point d5 in percent (the designation d5 indicates that the length of the test rod used for the measurement 1s 5 times its diameter).

III the Brinell harnness HBlO.

IV the specific weight in gms. per on. em.

V the temperature in C. at whicr on subsequent cooling loosening of the mounting of the pressed-in bearing occurs.

VI the running temperature in C. for IJ=0.8 in. per sec. and p=100 kg. per sq. cm.

VII the load-bearing ability at v=3 m. per sec. in kg. per sq. cm.

tent of the bearing material should not exceed 10%. Sat- The new material can be readily cast in sand moulds isfactory results are obtained if the sum of the copper and and in shell moulds or by die casting. It requires no subtin fraction lies between 8 and 12% preferably 10%. sequent heat treatment. This is however not absolutely necessary. Abearing mate- The chromium content can range up to 3%. Instead rial consisting of 20% aluminium, 60% zinc, 10% copper of chromium, nickel up to 3% may be added. and 10% tin has very satisfactory running properties. Further components of the new material may be silicon,

Other bearing materials which have been tested are beryllium and magnesium. Their content individually shown in the following table: should not exceed 3% and altogether 6%. A satisfactory Table 1 Al Zn Cu Sn Sb Or Be Mg Si H summer: i HI-ID-IH 3 material is obtained if a portion of the zinc in material I of Table l is replaced by 0.1% silicon and traces of nickel, beryllium and magnesium.

I claim:

1. Bearing material of the aluminium-zinc-copper alloy type, characterised in that is consists essentially of 20 to 65% aluminium, 1 to 10% copper, 0.05 to antimony and 0.1 to tin, and the remainder zinc.

2. Bearing material according to claim 1 characterised in that the antimony content is l to 2% 3. Bearing material according to claim 1 characterised in that the tin content is 2 to 6% 4. Bearing material according to claim characterised in that a portion of the zinc is replaced by up to 3% of a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium and nickel.

5. Bearing material according to claim 1 characterised in that a part of the zinc is replaced by at least one of the 4 elements silicon, beryllium and magnesium, individually up to 3% and in all up to 6%.

6. Bearing material according to claim 1 characterised in that the sum of the content of copper and tin amounts to 8 to 12%.

7. Bearing material of the aluminium-zinc-copper alloy type, characterised in that it consists essentially of to 65% aluminium, 1 to 10% copper, 0.05 to 5% antimony, and the remainder zinc.

8. Bearing material consists essentially of 59% A1, 29.9% Zn, 8% Cu, 2% Sn, 1% Sb, and 0.1% Cr.

9. Bearing material consists essentially of 60% A1, 30.9% Zn, 8% Cu, 1% Sb, and 0.1% Cr.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,243,489 Smith May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,031,298 April 24%1962 Josef Dern-tl It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correetion and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 13, after- "claim" insert 1 Signed and sealed this 28th day of August 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. BEARING MATERIAL OF THE ALUMINUM-ZINC-COPPER ALLOY TYPE, CHARACTRISED IN THAT IS CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF 20 TO 65% ALUMINIUM, 1 TO 10% COPPER, 0.05 TO 5% ANTIMONY AND 0.1 TO 10% TIN, AND THE REMAINDER ZINC. 